Sex & Shenanigans

[Mo_Bandy]

I mean, I’d rather have Taco Bell than Applebee’s, Chili’s or Olive Garden!

No kidding I went to Chilis with a couple people last night. First time in so many years. It was fine. Burger and fries. A couple margs and beers. Cheap and efficient. Decent food and service.

 

[LostHorizon]

View attachment 2483748

All these joints are nauseating

 

[MidwestPrincess23]

All these joints are nauseating

But but but… Chipotle!!!!

 

[LostHorizon]

But but but… Chipotle!!!!

Well now I know where to take you on a date.

 

[LupineOne]

View attachment 2483748

Everybody who’s had Cheesecake Factory would disagree. Everything I’ve had there has been excellent.

 

[UnquietDreams]

Am... I a cheap date? I would be happy with any of these. My last '"first date" was at a Zaxbys.

Edited to say: I just now saw the Midwestern part. I guess southern women are not picky at all.

I just looked up Zaxybys. Their website uses the words "Zalads" and "Zappetizers."

Purple, I swear to god I would take you someplace nice.

 

[UnquietDreams]

No kidding I went to Chilis with a couple people last night. First time in so many years. It was fine. Burger and fries. A couple margs and beers. Cheap and efficient. Decent food and service.

I miss Chilis! They all went away up here, but they keep playing a commercial for them to annoy me. Good chili, really well seasoned curly fries, an interesting take on nachos (they pile all of the ingredients on individual chips and broil them that way, rather than as a pile), and the best mushroom burger of all the bigger burger joints -- just enough garlic.

Damn, now I want Chilis.

 

[Kitty_so_frisky]

View attachment 2483748

Everybody who’s had Cheesecake Factory would disagree. Everything I’ve had there has been excellent.

So…the newer strip mall locations of Cheesecake Factory that’ve been popping up in the last 20 years have super weird neoclassical decor…but they have a massive variety of food and it’s ALL well-executed. Plus cheesecake! Who could possibly hate that?!?

In the LA area though…there are 2 locations on the Redondo Beach marina and Marina Del Rey that have been there…not exactly sure how long, but all my life, and they are legitimately pretty nice restaurants with chain restaurant prices. People used to actually dress up to go there, and it’s still always packed, even now. It’s not a big deal anymore, but they were at least a decade ahead of the curve when it came to pagers to let guests know their table was ready, and heat lamps for outdoor dining. They have valet, and banquet space upstairs (with their own bars) and even do weddings, and MdR has a lower cafe area outside. At the time I got engaged, one of my wedding planning books said the Marina Del Rey location was the most popular engagement spot in the LA area. Granted, now in the time of food blogs, there’s no way it can be considered anywhere near the best restaurant in LA, but the food is good and these 2 locations are classics that are literally built different from the rest!

 

[Kitty_so_frisky]

Am... I a cheap date? I would be happy with any of these. My last '"first date" was at a Zaxbys.

Edited to say: I just now saw the Midwestern part. I guess southern women are not picky at all.

I just looked up Zaxybys. Their website uses the words "Zalads" and "Zappetizers."

Purple, I swear to god I would take you someplace nice.

I mean…Zaxby’s has a drive-thru and is definitely firmly in the fast food category, but their chicken is good, and one of the few things I miss from my time in Pensacola

 

[lavendersilk]

So…the newer strip mall locations of Cheesecake Factory that’ve been popping up in the last 20 years have super weird neoclassical decor…but they have a massive variety of food and it’s ALL well-executed. Plus cheesecake! Who could possibly hate that?!?

In the LA area though…there are 2 locations on the Redondo Beach marina and Marina Del Rey that have been there…not exactly sure how long, but all my life, and they are legitimately pretty nice restaurants with chain restaurant prices. People used to actually dress up to go there, and it’s still always packed, even now. It’s not a big deal anymore, but they were at least a decade ahead of the curve when it came to pagers to let guests know their table was ready, and heat lamps for outdoor dining. They have valet, and banquet space upstairs (with their own bars) and even do weddings, and MdR has a lower cafe area outside. At the time I got engaged, one of my wedding planning books said the Marina Del Rey location was the most popular engagement spot in the LA area. Granted, now in the time of food blogs, there’s no way it can be considered anywhere near the best restaurant in LA, but the food is good and these 2 locations are classics that are literally built different from the rest!

View attachment 2483831
View attachment 2483832
View attachment 2483833
View attachment 2483834
View attachment 2483835
View attachment 2483847
View attachment 2483837

There is a Cheesecake Factory in Florida that looks just like that on the inside.

 

[UnquietDreams]

There is a Cheesecake Factory in Florida that looks just like that on the inside.

Same up here, but those outside shots?
https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZDd0bmQ4MHZ6Y3F6NTloZmFsanAya3U1dTl2cnhhN20zZDNvcW9zMCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/JmCFfTlNy12wFpOK8Y/giphy.gif

 

[lavendersilk]

Same up here, but those outside shots?
https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZDd0bmQ4MHZ6Y3F6NTloZmFsanAya3U1dTl2cnhhN20zZDNvcW9zMCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/JmCFfTlNy12wFpOK8Y/giphy.gif

So we have established our first date restaurant?

 

[UnquietDreams]

So we have established our first date restaurant?

Our Cheesecake Factory is in a mall. Not near the same ambiance.

But I do have one in mind...

 

[Kitty_so_frisky]

Our Cheesecake Factory is in a mall. Not near the same ambiance.

But I do have one in mind...

I grew up nearest the RB marina location, but the 1 nearest me now is in a mall, and has the same now-ubiquitous weird AF neoclassical Vegas decor as all the rest

 

[vagrantx]

I mean…Zaxby’s has a drive-thru and is definitely firmly in the fast food category, but their chicken is good, and one of the few things I miss from my time in Pensacola

I thought Pensacolan people only ate fish

 

[MischiefMakerAlways]

I mean, I’d rather have Taco Bell than Applebee’s, Chili’s or Olive Garden!

Am... I a cheap date? I would be happy with any of these. My last '"first date" was at a Zaxbys.

Edited to say: I just now saw the Midwestern part. I guess southern women are not picky at all.

All these joints are nauseating

Everybody who’s had Cheesecake Factory would disagree. Everything I’ve had there has been excellent.

So…the newer strip mall locations of Cheesecake Factory that’ve been popping up in the last 20 years have super weird neoclassical decor…but they have a massive variety of food and it’s ALL well-executed. Plus cheesecake! Who could possibly hate that?!?

I like CF, I think it's pretty good. I low-key like Chili's too. Is it fantastic? No. But it's always solidly good.

 

[UnquietDreams]

I thought Pensacolan people only ate fish

And cheescake.

 

[Kitty_so_frisky]

View attachment 2483748

As for the rest of the list…

Applebee’s food is almost always badly executed and probably the cheapest sit-down chain restaurant.

Chili’s is great in theory and has a good variety and amazingly well-priced specials, but is not always well-executed and has given me still-frozen-inside chicken that I didn’t eat, and food poisoning twice from stuff I did eat.

Chipotle is not a sit-down restaurant, but fast casual where you order at the counter and then sit down. It should not even be in the first date conversation?!

Olive Garden probably comes closest to acceptable (traditional) date territory in that they have tablecloths and serve wine and have wait staff in ties…but…they are a bit pretentious for a chain that MICROWAVES their pasta.

Worth bearing in mind that these places only made the worst list because they’re successful enough to have locations near everyone who voted though. Those intimate, local hidden gems usually make the best first date spots!

 

[SWR101]

As for the rest of the list…

Applebee’s food is almost always badly executed and probably the cheapest sit-down chain restaurant.

Chili’s is great in theory and has a good variety and amazingly well-priced specials, but is not always well-executed and has given me still-frozen-inside chicken that I didn’t eat, and food poisoning twice from stuff I did eat.

Chipotle is not a sit-down restaurant, but fast casual where you order at the counter and then sit down. It should not even be in the first date conversation?!

Olive Garden probably comes closest to acceptable (traditional) date territory in that they have tablecloths and serve wine and have wait staff in ties…but…they are a bit pretentious for a chain that MICROWAVES their pasta.

Worth bearing in mind that these places only made the worst list because they’re successful enough to have locations near everyone who voted though. Those intimate, local hidden gems usually make the best first date spots!

That was incredibly wel thought out and argued.
no notes, that was a solid breakdown

 

[Kitty_so_frisky]

I thought Pensacolan people only ate fish

Pescatarians?

I like CF, I think it's pretty good. I low-key like Chili's too. Is it fantastic? No. But it's always solidly good.

*Except when it serves food poisoning.

And cheescake.

They do! One of my favorite hours posted signs belongs to a cheesecake shop in Pensacola! My nocturnal insomniac non-morning perpetually-late self identifies with this so hard!

 

[UnquietDreams]

Pescatarians?


*Except when it serves food poisoning.


They do! One of my favorite hours posted signs belongs to a cheesecake shop in Pensacola! My nocturnal insomniac non-morning perpetually-late self identifies with this so hard!
View attachment 2483869

Oh, I understand closed for surf. Got me kicked out of UCSC...

 

[vagrantx]

View attachment 2483748

Bets first date I've ever been on was at Svartklubben (the Black Club) in Stockholm. As the name implies, it's a black-out restaurant where you dine in complete and total darkness. Cutlery was dropped, a plate was smashed, drinks were spilled and so, so much laughter was shared.

No walk-ins, only bookings - if you have any allergies or such then you have to state it in advance, because the menu is pre-set and secret. You won't know what you're eating until the fork meets your lips.

An incredible experience

 

[vagrantx]

Pescatarians?

Yes, sorry, pescatarian-related puns are my favorite

 

[UnquietDreams]

Yes, sorry, pescatarian-related puns are my favorite

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcW9jZzJ5aXM5ZzYzcnRwdnptb3FyMWF6eHduNHk4cHo3a3IzMDF2YSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/eJ7ParazFsAtmZfjZ2/giphy.gif

 

[SWR101]

Yes, sorry, pescatarian-related puns are my favorite

To be fair, Pensacola has a ton of seafood…